Bernard Fleuriet et Fils Sancerre Blanc 2023

Those of you who snagged the previous vintage of this fine producer know that this is a winery to watch in Sancerre! We’re one of the few sites anywhere to get some – and NO ONE can beat this price in the entire USA!

Under $30 for hyper fresh, ORGANIC Sancerre? We’ve got you, First Bottlers. This delectable domaine is on the west side of the Sancerre appellation – a relatively new producer for the region, with their holdings in Sancerre and nearby Menetou-Salon extending back to just 1991. About 25 hectares in Sancerre, plus another 5 in nearby Menetou-Salon, mostly on the region’s revered soils of caillottes, terres blanches, and silex.

Bernard Flueriet manages the estate with his two sons, Mathieu and Benoit. They work diligently on their land and have always pushed for sustainable efforts that are rewarded in the wine’s final complexity. The estate was awarded with a certificate for their Organic Agriculture beginning in 2016, with full Demeter (biodynamic) certification following in 2021. They vinify with minimal intervention in order to let the terroir express itself (indigenous yeasts, spontaneous fermentations, limited use of sulfur, etc.), and for this newest release, two-thirds of the fruit was fermented in concrete and one-third in large oak vats (60hl) to mature for 10 months.

In many ways, the wine reminds me of the 2021 vintage (which so happens to boast an incredible 96 point score from Decanter). The wine leads with crunchy and tart citrus notes, highlighted by lemon and white grapefruit, followed by green apple and yellow plum notes. Loads of river rock and flint amplify the minerality of the wine and allow for some minty freshness to be revealed on the finish. It’s perhaps rounder than the 2021 – with an overt friendliness that makes this all but irresistible to pop and pound with vigor! Get what you can now – Sancerre never seems to last these days and this price is almost too good to pass on!

PAIRING IDEAS: I’m craving sushi. If you’re ever up in Sonoma – do yourself a favor and take a detour to Hana, just off the 101 in Rohnert Park. It’s an unassuming space, but trust me, one step in the door and you are whisked away to some of the most authentic and delicious sushi in the entire Bay Area. Pour a taste for your chef and put your faith in his excellent hands.